ASBESTOS scattered onto the streets of a Teesside town as a warehouse was destroyed by fire.

Firefighters used specialist breathing equipment to extinguish the fire on Dovecot Street, Stockton, in the early hours of yesterday.

"There were asbestos fragments flying off from a hole in the roof and exploding all over the street," said Stockton Station Fire Brigade sub officer Simon Weastell. "We had to be very careful in everything we were doing. There were fumes from the asbestos and everything was toxic."

Firefighters were called at about 4.30am to the ACE Tarpaulins warehouse at the end of Dovecot Street farthest from the town centre.

A hydraulic platform was used and there was damage to the roof and severe damage to the inside and its contents.

Geoff Dyer, manager and part-owner of the business, saw the damage the next morning. He said: "I just came to work and this is what I found. There was a policewoman here and I just couldn't believe it. I'm just hoping we can save it and relocate because there's so much work on. It's an awful blow."

The owner of the property and the majority owner of the business have been informed